An encyclopedic compendium of every element of a yacht, this book takes apart the sailing boat to explore every part of it in depth. Gloriously illustrated with great photography and explanatory diagrams, each page is packed with fascinating detail.

Looking first at the history of yachting and boatbuilding techniques, the book explains the lineage and characteristics of the sailing boat parts that are focused on in more detail later in the book. All the main features of contemporary vessels - ranging from keels and masts to portholes and binnacles - are then analysed, with explanations of how they came to be the size, shape and material that they are, what they have in common, why they differ, all spiced with relevant historical anecdotes.